Epilepsy delegation meets EU Commissioner John Dalli

A delegation from the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association (CMEA) recently met EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli in Strasbourg.

The delegation briefed Mr Dalli on epilepsy in Malta and on the initiatives taken by the association to keep people with this condition updated with the latest treatment developments.

The delegation was in Strasbourg to participate in events organised by the International Bureau of Epilepsy (IBE) to mark European Epilepsy Day on Feb-ruary 14.

The CMEA was represented by Janet Mifsud from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, who is also vice-president of the IBE, and Victoria Dimech, a member of the European Epilepsy Regional Committee for IBE.

Epilepsy is the most common serious disorder of the brain and affects men, women and children of all ages and social backgrounds. Affecting more than six million people in Europe, epilepsy damages health and can disrupt every aspect of life – imposing physical, psychological, social and financial burdens on individuals and their families.

Around 4,000 people are affected by epilepsy in Malta. Despite the health care services available, CMEA said these people still face daily problems, such as essential medicines being frequently out of stock, lack of essential diagnostic services and stigmatisation in employment.